Original subtitles

Penny: EVERY TIME I HAD A PROBLEM,

IT WAS A POUND, TWO POUNDS, FIVE POUNDS,

AND I JUST KEPT GOING.

I LET FOOD BE THE WAY THAT I FOUND SOLACE.

SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M DEAD,

LIKE THAT I'M NOT ALIVE.

IF I COULD DO IT WITHOUT THE SURGERY,

I WOULD HAVE DONE IT.

MY WAY DOESN'T WORK.

AND THIS IS A DYNAMIC THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE NOW.

I'M DONE WITH THIS!

I QUIT! I'M DONE!

OH, IT HURTS.

I CAN'T BE THE REASON YOU LOSE WEIGHT

OR THE REASON YOU GAIN WEIGHT, PERIOD.

[ Voice breaking ] I WILL MAKE THIS WORK, I PROMISE.

I FEEL THAT THE SCALES WERE WRONG IN THE BEGINNING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU'VE MADE YOURSELF A PRISONER.

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT,

YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BREAK FREE.

Penny: HONEY!

Edgar: YEAH.

WHEN YOU BECOME AS HEAVY AS I HAVE, IT'S HARD.

IT'S REAL HARD.

SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M DEAD.

I CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED,

LIKE WALKING TO THE BATHROOM.

THIS IS MY BED.

THIS IS MY BATHROOM. THIS IS MY DINNER TABLE.

I MIGHT AS WELL BE A PRISONER IN JAIL.

MMM. IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

FOOD ADDICTION HAS BECOME MY LIFE.

HEY, ED, I NEED A PAPER TOWEL.

I STARTED OUT JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE,

AND ANYTIME I HAD A PROBLEM,

IT WAS A POUND, TWO POUNDS, FIVE POUNDS,

AND I JUST KEPT GOING.

EVEN AS EARLY AS SECOND AND THIRD GRADE,

I KNEW I WAS HEAVIER,

AND I REMEMBER, LIKE, FOURTH GRADE,

I STARTED HAVING TO WEAR PLUS SIZES.

I HATED THAT REALLY BAD.

JUST GAINING 20 POUNDS A YEAR,

I ENDED UP BEING CLOSE TO 300 BY THE TIME I WAS 22 OR SO.

MY WEIGHT IS VERY NEAR 600 AT THIS TIME.

[ SIGHS ] OH, MY GOODNESS.

I LET FOOD BE THE WAY THAT I FOUND SOLITUDE.

MY WORLD HAS CLOSED IN AROUND ME.

Penny: LIAM.

HEAD UP. YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DO DOWN.

WHY NOT?

'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR COWLICK IS.

I HELP TAKE CARE OF MY SON, BUT IT'S HERE.

IF HE REFUSED TO COME INTO MY BUBBLE,

THEN I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.

I LOVE YOU, NUGGET.

LOVE YOU.

YOU CAN GO GET IN THE CAR.

OKAY.

HER WEIGHT HAS AFFECTED US IN MANY WAYS.

I HAVE TO GO TO ALL THE SCHOOL FUNCTIONS.

HE'S IN TAE KWON DO,

AND SHE'S NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN HIM.

I'VE HAD TO VIDEOTAPE HIS CLASSES FOR HER.

HI-YA!

Christina: SHE'S A GREAT MOM,

BUT YOU JUST CAN'T BE A GOOD MOM WHEN YOU'RE IN BED.

Angela: LIAM LOVES HER SO MUCH,

AND I THOUGHT HAVING HIM WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING,

BUT IT HASN'T.

IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

SOME OF IT IS HER FAULT -- SOME OF IT IS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH

WHAT SHE WAS EXPOSED TO WITH MY DAD.

MY DAD WAS VERY ABUSIVE TO MY MOM AND TO US SOME.

Christina: THE ABUSE WAS SOMETHING THAT NO KID SHOULD --

NO KID SHOULD HAVE TO WATCH YOUR MOM BEATEN.

IT WASN'T EVERY DAY, BUT IT WAS EVERY TIME HE DRANK.

PENNY PROBABLY EXPERIENCED A LOT MORE OF IT THAN WE DID

BECAUSE SHE WAS THE OLDEST.

Angela: SHE HAD TO BEAR THE BRUNT

OF A LOT OF WHAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS HER FAULT. THE EATING -- YEAH, IT IS NOW.

BUT ALL THE STUFF IN THE HISTORY --

SHE HAD NOBODY TO TELL HER IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE THROUGH THE YEARS.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING, SHE WAS AROUND 450 POUNDS.

I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HER WEIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO GO PLACES.

I MET HER AT A RESTAURANT,

STANDING IN LINE AT THE BAR AND TALKING TO HER.

Penny: WE TALKED FOR LIKE TWO OR THREE HOURS,

AND THEN WE AGREED TO MEET AND GO ON A DATE.

FOUR MONTHS LATER, WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE TOGETHER,

AND WE GOT MARRIED.

AFTER SHE GOT PREGNANT, HER WEIGHT WENT UP TO --

I BELIEVE IT WAS 630.

AFTER SHE HAD LIAM,

SHE HAD A HARD TIME TAKING THE WEIGHT OFF.

IT HAS AFFECTED OUR RELATIONSHIP EXTREMELY.

IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS NOW

SINCE WE'VE ACTUALLY SLEPT IN THE SAME BED.

RIGHT NOW I'M HER FULL-TIME CAREGIVER,

SO I CAN'T GO OUT AND EARN MONEY.

WE'RE JUST LIVING ON HER DISABILITY.

WE NEED ALL THREE CEREALS.

WE'RE ALL OUT.

IT SEEMS LIKE ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER KEEPS GOING WRONG.

PENNY HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS...

I WANT DEVIL'S FOOD, CHOCOLATE.

...AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO THINK THAT I COULD LOSE HER.

PENNY USUALLY GIVES ME A LIST FOR GROCERY SHOPPING

FOR THE HOUSE -- CHIPS, SODA, CAKE MIX, CANDY.

THE LIST IS DONE, BUT I KNOW SHE LIKES ICE CREAM.

ED LOVES PENNY, BUT PENNY IS VERY STUBBORN,

AND ED DOES ENABLE HER.

HE BUYS WHATEVER SHE TELLS HIM,

AND IF HE DOESN'T, HE'S GONNA BE IN TROUBLE.

ED DEFINITELY DOES BRING THE FOOD INTO THE HOUSE,

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE.

WE DO EAT PROPERLY...

SOMETIMES.

Christina: [ Voice breaking ] SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO

BE MEAN AND MAKE HER WORK HARDER OR JUST LOVE HER UNTIL SHE DIES.

WE'RE GONNA BURY HER,

AND LIAM'S GONNA WALK BESIDE HER CASKET.

HE'S GONNA WATCH HIS MOMMY BE PUT IN THE GROUND,

PROBABLY BEFORE HE'S 10 YEARS OLD.

DO YOU LIKE US, OR DO YOU LIKE DADDY?

WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT? LOOK AT CHRISSY'S TEETH.

Penny: I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE

BECAUSE HE DESERVES A FULL-TIME MOM.

WE'RE PACKING UP TO GO TO TEXAS.

THAT'S LIKE THE LAST MINUTE.

WE HAVE TO BE IN THE VEHICLES IN LIKE NO TIME.

I'M GONNA BE IN THE BACK OF THE VAN,

ACTUALLY ON MY HOSPITAL MATTRESS.

THIS PHYSICIAN IS THE FIRST ONE THAT'S WILLING TO REALLY SEE ME

AND TAKE THE RISK, AT MY WEIGHT, TO DO THE SURGERY.

UP WITH MOMMY.

WHAT CAN WE SAY BESIDES GOODBYE?

I DON'T KNOW.

SEE YOU LATER? UH-OH.

Edgar: HERE'S OUR PLAN.

SHE WANTS ME TO PULL UP TO THAT

AND TO COME OUT AND LOAD HER INTO THAT.

UH-OH. NO.

AFTER WE GET HER OUT OF HER BED,

I HAVE TO BRING THE MATTRESS IN AND PUT IN THE VAN.

Man: COME ON BACK.

Woman: THIS IS IT, GIRL.

[ LAUGHS ]

ALL RIGHT. READY?

OKAY.

I DO.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

GOT IT?

I THINK I DO.

YOU GOT IT, SISTER.

PHEW!

WE GOT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF MEASUREMENT OUTSIDE,

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN.

PUSH STRAIGHT OUT.

YOU GOT TO PIVOT TO GET FEETFIRST.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS, HOLD ON.

ALL RIGHT. HOLD ON A SECOND.

I'M CLENCHING MY --

YEAH, I'M CLENCHING MY BUTT CHEEKS,

'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING HOLDING THAT MAT IN PLACE.

SLOWLY PULL ME FORWARD.

WATCH YOUR HEAD.

YEAH, I SEE MY HEAD.

YOU GOT ABOUT MAYBE THIS MUCH --

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE DOWN.

Penny: THIS IS NOT A JOURNEY OF ONE PERSON.

THIS IS A JOURNEY OF FAMILY, OF A CHILD WHO WANTS HIS MOTHER.

YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WILL LAY OUT

THIS JOURNEY SAFELY FOR ALL OF US.

AND, HEAVENLY FATHER, I THANK YOU, AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN.

Angela: THIS IS IT. THIS IS HER LAST CHANCE.

I DON'T GIVE HER FIVE YEARS AT THIS POINT.

HER HEALTH IS JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

Christina: ULTIMATELY, I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO

IF PENNY CHOOSES IF SHE'S GONNA LIVE OR DIE.

Edgar: I'VE CRIED AT NIGHT ABOUT IT SOMETIMES.

IF SHE CONTINUES IN THIS FASHION,

SHE COULD DIE.

Penny: WE NEED TO DO A QUICK PIT STOP.

PREMIUM CHICKEN SANDWICH.

WOMAN: Crispy or grilled?

CRISPY OR GRILLED? CRISPY.

GRILLED. CRISPY!

OH, I'M SORRY. MAKE THAT CRISPY.

I THINK THAT SHE'S IN TOTAL DENIAL.

A LITTLE BIT OF LUNCH. WE ALL NEEDED IT SO BAD.

I'M JUST HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE THE TURNING POINT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S EVER GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT.

OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD.

THIS HAS TO BE THE LONGEST DRIVE IN HISTORY.

WE GAMBLED WITH EVERY RESOURCE MY FAMILY HAS FINANCIALLY.

WE'VE HAD FRIENDS, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS,

PEOPLE DONATING TO US.

HONESTLY, IF THIS IS A FAIL, THE FAILURE IS CATASTROPHIC.

PENNY. HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. HI.

ARE YOU GLAD YOU'RE HERE NOW?

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, DOCTOR, WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE,

YOU ENDED THE CALL WITH

[Voice breaking] "I'M GONNA HELP YOU."

AND THAT MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME.

THOSE WORDS GAVE ME THE STRENGTH TO COME.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

Penny: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO START THIS PROCESS,

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHEN I LOOK AT A TIMELINE FOR MY FUTURE,

IT'S SHORT.

OH, GOD.

I JUST HAVE TO BE READY FOR EVERYTHING HEAD-ON.

OH!

Dr. Nowzaradan: PENNY IS VERY LARGE,

BUT TO KNOW HER SITUATION,

I NEED TO EXAMINE HER AND SEE HOW MUCH SHE WEIGHS.

WE'RE GONNA CHECK YOUR WEIGHT NOW, OKAY?

THIS IS THE LARGEST FISH IN THE MARKET.

OKAY.

LET ME CHECK A COUPLE THINGS ON YOU, OKAY?

OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.

CAN YOU MOVE YOUR FEET FOR ME?

WELL, YES AND NO.

CAN WE TURN THAT OXYGEN OFF?

I AM ON OXYGEN 24 HOURS A DAY.

BUT IF YOUR OXYGEN SATURATION IS BETTER THAN MINE,

WHY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE OXYGEN?

I DON'T KNOW THE TECHNICAL REASON,

BUT AT 20 MINUTES, MY FINGERS AND LIPS GET BLUE.

AND RIGHT NOW, I'M STARTING TO BE

VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITHOUT THE OXYGEN.

OKAY.

WE WILL TURN IT BACK ON, OKAY?

YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PENNY GOT A LOT OF ISSUES.

SOME OF THEM ARE REAL. SOME OF THEM ARE IMAGINARY.

SHE SEEMS LIKE SHE PLAYED A ROLE OF BEING A VICTIM

AND ENCOURAGING FAMILY TO BE ENABLERS,

AND THIS DYNAMIC IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP PENNY UNDER OBSERVATION AND A STRICT DIET.

IF SHE LOSES WEIGHT IN ONE MONTH,

SURGERY WILL BE AN OPTION.

THE LITTLE STICKIES NOW?

BEING IN HOSPITAL,

SHE SHOULD EASILY BE ABLE TO LOSE 25 TO 50 POUNDS.

Penny: NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL,

SO GETTING THIS SURGERY NOW, IT'S THE HAIL MARY.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

I LOVE YOU, HONEY.

HEY.

TODAY IS THE DAY I FIGHT FOR THIS LIFE.

I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO STILL NOW CHANGE

EVERYTHING I'VE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT EATING.

I'M STARVING TO DEATH.

AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY THING I HAVE LEFT TO DO

IS EITHER LOSE WEIGHT OR LOSE MY LIFE.

I HAVE NOTHING ELSE. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.

IF I DON'T TAKE THIS ROUTE NOW,

I WON'T SEE MY SON START MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]

GOOD MORNING.

HELLO.

SO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I DEFINITELY CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE

WHEN I START LOSING WEIGHT.

SO, I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE ROLE

THAT I NORMALLY PUNCH MY INSULIN INTO.

SO YOU'RE MISSING YOUR ROLLS?

I'M ABSOLUTELY MISSING A ROLL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PENNY'S DONE VERY WELL.

SHE LOST 40 POUNDS ON HER OWN.

SHE STILL HAS A LOT OF ISSUES,

BUT NOW SHE'S PROVEN SHE CAN LOSE WEIGHT.

SHE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO WALK,

SO THE SURGERY IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT STEP.

WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THE THING WILL GO

WITH THE FIRST OPERATION.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

GET UP HERE. GIVE ME SOME LOVES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Penny: I KNOW WITH THIS SURGERY

THAT I'M GAMBLING WITH TIME NOW TO GET TIME LATER,

BUT I HAVE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WHAT'S MOMMY GIVING YOU WHEN I COME BACK?

ONE OF THESE, RIGHT? YEAH.

Penny: I WANT ED TO BE JUST MY HUSBAND

AND NO LONGER MY CARETAKER.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SURPRISE MY SON

AND PICK HIM UP AT SCHOOL.

Man: PENNY, RIGHT NOW,

I WANT YOU JUST TO FOCUS ON YOUR BREATHING.

PENNY, YOU'RE GONNA START TO GET A LITTLE SLEEPY NOW.

THIS IS MY LIFE. I WILL FIGHT FOR THIS LIFE.

Edgar: SHE'LL BE OKAY, BUD.

YOU GOT TO THINK POSITIVE.

THAT'S WHY WE PRAY.

...FROM THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL TO THE SIZE OF A BANANA.

EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD.

Man: EVERYBODY READY?

1, 2, 3.

Edgar: IT'S A BIG STEP FOR US.

EVERYTHING IS GONNA GET BETTER NOW.

YOU GET REST.

Woman: HI, MS. PENNY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

OPEN YOUR EYES.

SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLAN TO WALK? NO?

Dr. Nowzaradan: PENNY IS UNWILLING TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND.

I'M NOT SURE WHY SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO SIT UP OR --

IF I CAN WALK, THERE IS TRUE MIRACLES IN THE WORLD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

THAT'S LIKE HAVING SURGERY ON YOUR HAND.

"DOC, CAN I PLAY PIANO NOW?"

"OH, I'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. SURE YOU CAN PLAY PIANO."

"THAT'S GREAT, BECAUSE I COULDN'T BEFORE SURGERY."

IF SHE DOESN'T GET UP AND WALK,

SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HER WEIGHT LOSS.

DO YOU WANT UP A LITTLE BIT?

I'M GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT HER.

THIS IS LIAM AND I'S ROOM. IT'S ONLY A ONE-BEDROOM.

I GET THE BOTTOM BUNK.

OBVIOUSLY, CAN'T SLEEP WITH PENNY,

BUT I KNOW LIAM CAN'T WAIT FOR HER TO COME HOME.

THAT MAKES HIM HAPPY.

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS IS THE KITCHEN.

THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO DRINK.

WHAT DAD LIKES TO DRINK.

AND PUDDING FOR MOM.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR MOMMY TO QUIT ALL THE FAST FOOD.

Edgar: WHEN SHE COMES HOME,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE MY DIET AND START GETTING THINGS RIGHT.

THE FOOD IN HERE IS BASICALLY

FOR LIAM AND I SURVIVING BEFORE SHE GOT HOME,

SO IT'S NOT THE HEALTHIEST STUFF.

I JUST HOPE SHE DOESN'T EXPECT ME TO EAT AS LITTLE AS SHE EATS.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S ALL WE GOT TO DO

IS JUST KEEP OUR HOPES UP AND JUST KEEP PLOWING FORWARD.

Edgar: YEAH. IT'S YOUR DINNER TIME.

Woman: CAN THEY CALL AND BRING SOME FRUIT?

WHAT IS IT?

WHY AM I ON A SOFT DIET?

WELL, HE NEEDS TO GET HIS POOP IN A GROUP,

OR ELSE I'M GONNA ORDER SOMETHING.

THIS IS SO STUPID.

I GOT TO FIND OUT WHY MY DIET IS THIS DIET.

NO ONE TOLD ME I HAD TO LOSE WEIGHT WHEN I GOT HERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PENNY'S BEHAVIOR.

SHE'S NOT LOSING WEIGHT ANYMORE.

SHE'S BEEN GIVEN THE RIGHT DIET.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY SHE SHOULDN'T LOSE MORE WEIGHT

WHILE SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL.

SHE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM.

PENNY, HOW ARE YOU?

HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU EATING?

Penny: THREE TIMES. THAT'S IT.

ARE YOU ABLE TO FINISH THE WHOLE THING YOU'RE EATING?

A MEAL? NO.

THE LESS YOU EAT, THE BETTER IT IS.

BUT THE MIRACLE THAT'S HAPPENING,

THAT YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT.

NO, I'VE DEFINITELY LOST WEIGHT.

WELL, LET'S CHECK YOUR STOMACH, OKAY?

KEEP IN THERE.

OOH, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THAT LOW.

OH, MY GOD!

I USED TO HAVE A WAD LIKE THIS TO TAKE MY NEEDLES IN.

NOW IT'S THIS.

PENNY IS NOT REALLY MAKING THE CHANGES

THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND COOPERATE

AND BECOME A PERSON THAT WANTS TO GET WELL.

LOOK AT MY NIGHTGOWN.

IT GOES ALL THE WAY --

I DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR NIGHTGOWN.

YOU CAN GET UP AND STAND UP ON A SCALE,

WE CAN CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

NOT TODAY? OKAY.

YEAH, I'M JUST TOO WEAK.

I'M CONCERNED THAT PENNY CONVINCED HERSELF

THAT SHE'S PERMANENTLY DISABLED.

OKAY?

I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP HER.

Penny: COME IN.

HI, PENNY.

HI.

PENNY IS NOT MAKING ANY MORE PROGRESS.

THERE IS NO BENEFIT FOR HER TO BE HERE.

HOPEFULLY, THINGS WILL CHANGE AFTER YOU GET BACK HOME.

ARE YOU EXCITED GOING HOME TODAY?

I'M READY TO GO HOME TODAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, I HAVE IT IN MY FOLDER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM, YOU CALL US.

YEAH.

EVEN 3:00 AT NIGHT, OKAY?

PENNY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES WHEN SHE GOES HOME.

IF SHE HAS ANY CHANCE TO SUCCEED,

SHE NEEDS TO BE MOBILE.

Penny: I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT. IT'S OVER AND DONE.

I JUST NEED TO BE HOME WITH MY FAMILY.

Woman: OKAY, READY. Man: 1, 2, 3.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FINALLY GETTING TO GO HOME.

A FEW LITTLE BUMPS.

I MISS BEING WITH ED AND LIAM SO MUCH.

Penny: THANK YOU.

VOILà.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE CORDONED OFF

LIKE I WAS IN A CAGE.

Edgar: WHICH PIECE?

THE ONE YOU JUST PULLED OUT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE DOING THIS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FIRST?

I JUST ASKED YOU TO DO SOMETHING.

I KNOW. AND I WAS DOING THAT.

WELL, YOU'RE STANDING HERE, AND I DON'T THINK

THAT CONSTITUTES, REALLY, AS A JOB OR A TASK.

WE'LL WORRY ABOUT IT --

Penny: I WANTED TO GET MY BAG AND START GETTING STUFF OUT,

'CAUSE I NEED TO GET...

Penny: I'M GLAD TO BE HOME.

Penny: YOU HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE TELLING YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GONNA KNOW

WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU IS YOU.

[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Sprague: TODAY WAS MY FIRST DAY WITH PENNY.

I'VE WORKED WITH QUITE A FEW BARIATRIC PATIENTS.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH SOMEONE OF HER SIZE.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR FIRST MAJOR GOAL

IS GETTING YOU SITTING UP ON THE EDGE OF THE BED.

LET'S GET STARTED, AND LET'S JUST KIND OF WARM EVERYTHING UP.

LET'S DO SOME OF YOUR ANKLE PUMPS.

[ GROANS ]

Penny: PHYSICALLY, I'M JUST NOT ABLE TO GET UP.

I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

AAH!

I JUST KNOW MY LIMITATIONS.

JUST SEE IF YOU CAN PUSH DOWN TO MY HAND.

YOU CAN GET THAT HEEL UP.

EVEN JUST TAKE PRESSURE OFF MY HAND.

I JUST DID.

IT COULD BE A VERY LONG TIME

BEFORE I AM ABLE TO WALK.

WHAT ABOUT SIDE LYING?

LAYING ON MY SIDE,

MY OXYGEN GETS WONKY REALLY FAST.

Sprague: THERE'S ALWAYS SOME EXCUSE.

I'M NOT SO SURE SHE'S GONNA PUSH HERSELF

ALL THE WAY, SO SHE'S GONNA REQUIRE SOMEONE

TO KIND OF GIVE HER A KICK IN THE BOTTOM.

IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MOTIVATES HER.

TODAY WAS JUST THE FIRST DAY OF EXERCISE,

SO KIND OF LIGHT START TO EVERYTHING.

WE GOT A LOT MORE THAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. YOU JUST GOT TO DO IT.

WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH HER.

SHE'S STRONG-WILLED.

WHAT A BLAH DAY.

Penny: YOU REALLY DON'T NEED SOMEONE TELLING YOU RIGHT AFTER SURGERY

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.

I CAN PRETTY MUCH LOOK AT FOOD

AND CALCULATE EXACTLY WHAT THE CALORIES ARE.

I KNOW THE PERCENTAGES FROM FAT I SHOULD BE HAVING.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF.

YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS THERE REALLY WASN'T A DIET,

LIKE, GIVEN TO US, OR TO ME.

I'M WAITING FOR THE FOOD!

ALL RIGHT.

I NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN ME.

I FEEL LIKE I'M DROPPING ON MY SUGAR.

THERE'S REALLY ONLY SO MANY POPSICLES AND SOUPS

AND CREAM OF WHEAT YOU CAN TAKE BEFORE YOU'RE DONE WITH IT.

I CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT WON TONS.

THEY'RE NOT THE BEST THING FOR ME.

DR. NOWZARADAN IS GONNA BE LIKE, "WHY IS SHE EATING THAT?"

BUT I CAN EAT ALL OF THIS BY MYSELF,

AND IT WOULDN'T BE AS DETRIMENTAL TO ME AS NOT EATING.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

HELLO.

DR. NOWZARADAN: Penny, yeah, this is Dr. Nowzaradan.

HI.

How are you?

I'M NOT DOING TOO GOOD TODAY.

RIGHT.

YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE

A POTENTIAL SECOND STEP.

OKAY.

Okay. Bye.

[ SIGHS ]

READY? 1, 2, 3.

I HAVE SPENT THE LAST SIX MONTHS

GIVING IT ALL I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN LOSING WEIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE THE SCALE TO BE LOWER THAN LAST TIME,

'CAUSE THAT'S MY GOAL EVERY TIME I STEP ON IT.

[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]

SO, FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE

TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOU, SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

YEAH. I'M DOING GOOD.

LOTS OF NICE, NEW HANGING SKIN EVERYWHERE.

WELL, HANGING SKIN IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

WHAT IS YOUR WEIGHT DOING?

WELL, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE WEIGHED YET.

HOW COME?

I DON'T HAVE A SCALE.

YOU BEEN UP, WALKING AROUND?

NO, I HAVEN'T.

WE WEIGH YOU RIGHT NOW, AND YOU SEE HOW MUCH YOU LOST.

[ GROANS ]

VERY GOOD.

I JUST NEED TO HOLD ONTO THE FRONT.

[ GROANS ]

[ GROANS ]

[ GROANS ]

PENNY, YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT.

YOU GAINED WEIGHT SINCE THE SURGERY, OKAY?

AND YOU SHOULD BE, RIGHT NOW, WALKING.

YOU SHOULD BE AROUND 250 POUNDS.

[ Voice breaking ] I FEEL THAT THE SCALES WERE WRONG IN THE BEGINNING

AND THAT I WEIGHED MORE THAN WHAT THAT WAS.

I'VE BEEN PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE.

LOOK, PENNY, QUIT CRYING,

BECAUSE THIS IS FOR YOUR BENEFIT, OKAY?

THERE HAS BEEN CHANGE.

LOOK, I MEAN, IT'S HANGING OFF MY SHOULDERS.

YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO CONVINCE YOURSELF, OKAY?

SIR, YOU CAN'T CONVINCE YOURSELF

THAT YOUR SLEEVES COME PAST YOUR HANDS NOW,

AND THEY NEVER DID THAT.

PENNY --

I CAN REACH MY VAGINA AND CLEAN IT MYSELF.

I COULDN'T DO THAT SIX MONTHS AGO.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING -- IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE, OKAY?

THEN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO JUST GO HOME,

WHERE I CAN TRY AND GET SOMETHING ELSE.

I DON'T THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS GETTING ANYWHERE.

IT'S YOUR LIFE AND YOUR DECISION.

I'M NOT. I'M --

[ SOBS ]

Edgar: THERE'S NO WAY YOU GAINED WEIGHT FROM SURGERY TO NOW.

THERE'S NO WAY.

NO WAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PENNY HAS BEEN AT HOME FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

SHE GAINED WEIGHT,

AND SHE DOESN'T LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE SCALE IS SHOWING HER.

MAYBE I'M NOT GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS I'M HOME.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

WELL, HE MIGHT HAVE PUSHED ME TO THAT POINT.

I THINK YOU'RE EATING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I EAT SO MUCH.

A LOT WOULD LOOK LIKE A LITTLE BIT TO ME.

I DON'T THINK I'M GETTING MUCH ACROSS TO PENNY AT THIS POINT.

I THINK THAT PENNY IS HER WORST ENEMY

AND HER HUSBAND IS HER SECOND-WORST ENEMY THAT SHE GOT,

AND THEY DON'T REALIZE

THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS GAME SHE'S PLAYING.

YOU'RE HUNGRY?

YOU WANT ME TO GET YOU SOME ICE CREAM?

YES.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE PENNY, THEY PLAY THIS KIND OF GAME,

AND ONE DAY I GET THE NOTICE TO SIGN THEIR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

Man: 1, 2, 3.

Penny: I FEEL DEFEATED.

I JUST WANT -- I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

[ BOTH LAUGHING ]

I GOT IT NOW!

WHEN DR. NOWZARADAN CAME IN AND SAID, YOU KNOW,

"OH, YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT,

'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T LOST THE WEIGHT I EXPECTED."

AND THE REASON THAT WHAT HE SAID WAS SO IMPACTFUL TO ME

IS IT TOOK ME BY, LIKE -- PHEW! -- SURPRISE.

I THINK THAT DAY IN THE HOSPITAL WAS HARDER

THAN THE DAY I LEFT MARYLAND,

AND IT'S MADE ME THINK ABOUT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

AND THE BAD NEWS IS WE'RE HAVING THIS

ALL FOR DINNER TOMORROW, GUYS.

PENNY'S ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.

SHE'S DOING GOOD WITH THE DIET,

AND I'M GETTING BETTER WITH THE DIET.

IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN I EXPECTED.

Penny: ONE OF MY GOALS

IS TO GO TO LIAM'S KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION.

I WANT TO BE THE MOTHER FOR LIAM THAT I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.

[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]

HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Edgar: SINCE WE'VE BEEN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,

SHE'S DONE A LOT BETTER.

SHE'S TRYING A LOT MORE THROUGH HER PAIN.

ON 3 -- 1, 2, 3.

[ GASPS ]

YOU'RE GOOD.

[ SIGHS ]

YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

I'M JUST STRAIGHTENING MY KNEE.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I COULD WALK.

I'M READY TO GET OUT OF THIS BED.

[ BEEPING ]

YOU'RE DOING GOOD. YOU REALLY ARE.

I'M NOT. [ LAUGHS ]

YES, YOU ARE.

[ SIGHS ]

Penny: LIAM.

BACK UP AND LET ME TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU.

OKAY, WAIT. WAIT, WAIT.

GIVE ME THAT SMILE.

TODAY'S LIAM'S GRADUATION FOR KINDERGARTEN.

IT'S HARD, 'CAUSE ED WILL BE LEAVING

TO GO SEE THE AWARD CEREMONY, AND I'LL BE HERE.

WOULD YOU BRING ME HOME AN AWARD AND SOME PICTURES, OKAY?

YOU.

IT'S HARD NOT TO BE THERE, BUT IT'S EVEN HARDER

WHEN I SAY, "I'M SORRY I CAN'T BE THERE TODAY."

AND HE'S LIKE, "OH, IT'S OKAY."

I NEVER WANT ANYONE TO DISCOUNT

"WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET TO DO THESE THINGS WITH YOUR SON,"

BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE WITH MY SON

ON A REGULAR, DAILY BASIS

PROBABLY EXCEED WHAT REGULAR MOMS GET TO DO

THAT HAVE TO GO OUT IN THE WORKFORCE.

STILL, THERE'S THINGS THAT ALL MOMS MISS.

BUT I'LL BE AT HIS NEXT EVENT. I KNOW I WILL.

Penny: YOU ONLY GET OUT OF LIFE WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT,

AND IN THE END, YOUR FAILURE OR YOUR SUCCESS IS UP TO YOU.

YEAH. THEY MESSED UP MY FOOD.

I SHOULD HAVE HAD A CHICKEN CHEESESTEAK,

AND IT'S REGULAR MEAT.

[ GROANS ]

AND, LIKE, THEY DIDN'T HARDLY PUT ANY LETTUCE ON IT EITHER.

I THINK I WAS TOLD BY THE DOCTOR I FAILED

BECAUSE I DIDN'T MEET WHAT GOAL HE WANTED,

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS

GIVEN TO ME.

[ KNOCK AT DOOR ]

Penny: COME IN!

HELLO.

HI. COME ON IN.

Lynn: TODAY I'M HERE TO SEE MS. SAEGER.

WE WANT TO EXPLORE SOME OF HER NUTRITIONAL HABITS

AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME WAYS THAT PERHAPS WE CAN HELP HER

TO BE A LITTLE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN SHE'S BEEN TO THIS POINT.

DR. NOWZARADAN ASKED ME TO COME MEET WITH YOU.

RIGHT.

AND SO WHAT I WANT TO DO FIRST IS GET A LITTLE HISTORY.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR SEEKING OUT SURGERY?

I'M SORRY, AND TAKE THIS RUDE IF YOU WANT,

BUT I FIND THAT TO BE AN ASININE QUESTION.

OKAY.

SO, LIKE, THE MOTIVATION IS OBVIOUSLY TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND REGAIN WHAT --

IT'S TO GET BACK WHATEVER YOU HAVEN'T HAD

BECAUSE OF IT. DO YOU HAVE GOALS OF...

NOPE.

...MEETING CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE?

NOPE. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WILL NOT DO THAT. WILL NOT DO THAT.

IT'S A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO VERY EASILY GET COMFORTABLE,

SIT ON THEIR LAURELS,

AND NOT ACHIEVE TO THEIR BEST ABILITY.

YOU WANT TO CHECK THE FRIDGE, FIRST?

WHILE YOU'RE IN THERE, SHE CAN HELP YOU CLEAN IT OUT.

[ LAUGHS ]

GOT THE HAM.

WE GOT CORN AND POTATOES, COLE SLAW, EGGS,

AND THEN THAT'S THE PIE FOR THANKSGIVING.

THE PIE.

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

SHE MADE CUPCAKES FOR LIAM.

LIAM, MY SON,

HE'S NOT A CANDY-EATER, A COOKIE-EATER.

HE'S GOT, LIKE, SET THINGS THAT --

HE GETS A BEDTIME SNACK AND ONE SNACK A DAY.

SO, WE HAVE SOME CEREALS HERE.

THEY'RE IN THERE, TRYING TO MAKE HIM THROW AWAY YOUR CEREAL.

MOMMY SAID, "NOT TILL YOU'RE 18,"

THAT YOU ARE GONNA HAVE ALL THE CEREAL YOU WANT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS ON HAND.

YOU WANT FOODS THAT GIVE YOU VITAMINS AND PROTEIN

AND GIVE YOU FIBER.

I KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE IS NOT GOOD.

I THINK MAYBE I MADE A BIGGER IMPACT

WITH EDGAR THAN PERHAPS PENNY.

I THINK HE MAYBE NOW HAS SOME BETTER KNOWLEDGE

ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT THE GROCERY STORE.

EGG WHITES ARE GREAT PROTEIN.

THINK OF PRODUCE, VEGETABLES.

EGG WHITES, AND NOT EGG YOLKS.

I'M HOPING, IF ANYTHING, THAT HE GETS A BENEFIT

THAT HE CAN MAKE BETTER CHOICES AT THE STORE NOW.

OH, SO WHAT DID YOU THINK?

I THINK IT WAS A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS IS SO STUPID.

YOU HOLD MY -- UNDER THIS ARM LIKE --

HERE? RIGHT HERE?

YEP. THAT'S WHAT I NEED.

THAT'S ALL THEY'RE DOING WHEN I'M DOING THERAPY.

[ SIGHS ] OW.

[ GROANS ]

I MUST BE TIRED. MY KNEES HURT.

OOH!

HONEY, YOU WANT US TO HELP YOU GET BACK INTO BED NOW?

I KNOW.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT LIVING IN A WORLD

WHERE I'VE GIVEN YOU MY LIFE

AND PUT YOU AS MY EARTHLY GOD,

AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

I KNOW. I KNOW. OKAY.

I'M FEELING LIKE I'VE JUST BEEN SUCKER-PUNCHED AGAIN!

WHY DIDN'T THIS DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO

WHEN I'M DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO?

WHERE'S MY YELLOW-BRICK ROAD?

WHY DIDN'T I GET IT?

'CAUSE I'M WORKING HARD, DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND I'M BEING GOOD.

PENNY HAS TO WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND SHE HAS TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK.

IF SHE APPLIES HERSELF,

SHE HAS AS GOOD A CHANCE AS ANYBODY ELSE.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANY WILLINGNESS TO WANT TO GET WELL.

SO MY MIND IS JUST TIRED.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

I CAN'T DO THIS, AND I NEED TO GO HOME,

WHERE I HAVE FAMILY AND SUPPORT,

AND THAT MEAN THE END ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO HOME.

Edgar: LORD, WE THANK YOU

FOR THE FOOD THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE,

AND WE DEFINITELY THANK YOU

FOR ALL THE GOOD LUCK THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US

THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY WITH PENNY'S SURGERY.

EVEN IF I'M NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORLD'S EYES,

THE FACT THAT I DID ALL OF THIS SO FAR

CHANGED MY PATH IN LIFE FOREVER.

AND I DON'T EVER HAVE TO BE AN IDEAL WEIGHT IN LIAM'S EYES,

BECAUSE HE'S SEEN WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO FOR HIM,

AND HE'S PROUD OF ME.

I LIKE THE LITTLE CRISPY ONE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK PENNY HAS

ANY INTENTION TO CHANGE ANYTHING IN HER LIFESTYLE.

[ LAUGHS ]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL WORK FOR PENNY.

I HOPE THAT SHE WAKES UP AT SOME POINT.

OTHERWISE, I DON'T THINK SHE'S GONNA LIVE TOO LONG.

FOR ME, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME

ARE GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT

THAN THE THINGS I'VE ALREADY OVERCOME.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, HARD ROAD,

BUT I'M NOT DEFINITELY NOT WHERE I STARTED,

AND I'M NOT EVER GOING TO GIVE UP.

[ SIGHS ]